Culture, Etc.

This Month's highlights.

By: Marisa LaScala

He's Feelin' Alright

Dave Mason has never been a household name, but the artists and bands he's worked with over the years—Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Winwood, Fleetwood Mac—certaintly are. Though the 63-year-old Brit has always been more influential than famous—he was a respected songwriter and session player, a founding member of the seminal '60s rock band Traffic, and a studio/backing musician for Clapton, George Harrison, and the Stones, among others—he's considered a "musican's musican" whose signiture songs, "Feelin' Alright" and "We Just Disagree," a Light-FM staple for three decades, still sound surprisingly sage. Check out Dave Mason at the Tarrytown Music Hall on July 16.

Gotta Lovett

The last time Lyle Lovett played Connecticut, the event sold out so quickly we didn’t even have time to put it in the magazine. Now, we finally have our second chance, as the not-quite-country, not-quite-folk, not-quite-pop songsmith returns to the area on July 1. The concert takes place at the Ives Concert Park in Danbury, where Lovett will show off the tunes that earned him four Grammy awards. The musician is best known for his eclectic style—one that is best appreciated live.

Better Than Dilbert

Fans of The Office might enjoy the skewed view of corporate culture offered in Scramble! the new play opening at the Westport Country Playhouse. Like our friends at Dunder Mifflin, Scramble! reveals the exploits of a less-than-competent company, only instead of paper-pushers, it’s the office of a golf magazine in transition after being sold to a corporate publisher. Written by playwright-in-residence David Wiltse, the play stars Saturday Night Live alum Rachel Dratch. Scramble! runs from July 9 to 26.

Ani Way You Want It

It’s clear why musician Ani DiFranco chose to name her indie record label “Righteous Babe.” Since her self-titled debut in 1989, she’s embraced a do-it-yourself aesthetic that’s allowed her to release a staggering 19 albums—without ever giving into the pressure of major record labels or compromising her punky, folky sound. To see this righteous babe perform the best selections from her massive body of work, check her out at Danbury’s Ives Concert Park on July 15.

’Go Girls!

Chances are, if you’ve ever been on a college campus or attended an open mic, you know the impassioned acoustic song stylings of the Indigo Girls. But their music isn’t limited to the folk-rock circuit. The duo’s most recent album, 2006’s Despite Our Differences, reached No. 44 on the Billboard 200 chart. To hear songs from Despite Our Differences, old favorites like their inescapable “Closer to Fine”—and possibly “Dear Mr. President,” their collaboration with rocker Pink, which was never released in the U.S.—visit the Paramount Center for the Arts on July 19.

Home Theater

What to add to your Netflix queue this month

In BrugesDVD Release Date: June 24, Universal Studios Home Entertainment

It may seem like your typical gangster film—a hit man and his buddy need to hide out in the Old-World city of Bruges, Belgium, after a botched job—but written and directed by award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh, the film is both darker and funnier than you can imagine. After the film, extra features take you on a virtual tour of Bruges (“the fourth major character in the film,” says the DVD synopsis) so you can see the sights from the city’s canals—or skip all that culture junk for the Colin Farrell/Brendan Gleeson gag reel.

Mad MenDVD Release Date: July 1, Lions Gate Television Inc.

Ah, the 1960s: when people chain-smoked indoors, stowed whisky in their desk drawers, and when “workstations” had nothing but a 10-pound phone and a file folder on their desktops. Revisit this era through the “Golden Age” of Madison Avenue with Mad Men, a stylish series about a handful of hard-boiled ad execs. DVD features take a look at how real ads shaped American culture—and how costume, hair, and production designers made everything on the show look just so retro.

Batman BeginsDVD Release Date: July 8, Warner Home Video

If you’re as excited for The Dark Knight as we are, you’ve got nothing but Batman on the brain. (And if you’re female, that means Christian Bale in the tight batsuit.) Refresh yourself with another screening of Batman Begins from this new release, which conveniently comes with $7.50 in “movie cash” you can put towards the purchase of an adult ticket to see The Dark Knight in theaters. If you go all-out and get the Blu-Ray Limited Edition Gift Set, you’ll also get a sneak peek at the first six minutes of the new film, as well as an all-new DC Comics adaptation of The Dark Knight prologue, exclusive photos, script pages, and story boards.

SpacedDVD Release Date: July 22, Warner Home Video

Fans of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s slacker comedy in Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead will want to check out their British TV series, Spaced. The show follows Tim (Pegg) and Daisy (co-creator Jessica Hynes), two single people who see their ordinary lives in terms of Hollywood blockbusters (one feature has an homage-o-meter on screen to keep track of the pop-culture references). With fans like Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Bill Hader, Matt Stone, Patton Oswalt, and Diablo Cody—who all show up on the commentary track—you know it’s bound to be funny. // ML

In The County

The Roots

Honoring the cultures of different communities in the county? Sure, we’ll take any excuse to get outside and party. As in the past, the county is holding a series of heritage celebrations at local parks throughout the month, featuring ethnic food, music, dancing, entertainment and arts. Check the schedule below, or for more information, contact the Westchester County Parks Department (914-864-7275; westchestergov.com/parks).